A/N: Thank you Timeless Badger for reading and reviewing! I appreciate it more than you know! Please keep reading and I'll keep writing! Cheers!
1864
The team found themselves inside an empty coal depot after the Lifeboat landed. The inside of the depot was covered in black soot residue from just having been cleared out of the rocks. The dusty air caused them to choke and cover their mouths and noses with their sleeves. The hour was late as the sun had set long ago. The sounds filtering into the depot were a mixture of train and boatswain whistles from somewhere in the distance.
The team approached the main door to the depot, pushing them hard, only to discover that they were locked from the outside by chain and padlock.
"What do we do now?" Lucy asked, using her sleeve to cover her nose and mouth.
Rufus's eyes scanned the depot. He could see some large windows near the catwalk rafters, allowing natural light to filter inside. He turned back to the team to mention it when Wyatt removed his gun to aim the locked doors. "Whoa! Wait!" he shouted, holding his hands up. When he had everyone's attention, he added, "You remember that bullets ricochet, right?"
"Do you have a better idea?" Wyatt asked impatiently.
"Yeah," Rufus replied, brows raised. "How about not getting shot by the friendly stormtrooper fire?" He shook his head and pointed to the windows. "We could just climb out of here."
Wyatt blinked at him, holstering his gun. With a shrug, he said, "That works, too."
The team climbed up the metal steps to the rafters, glancing out the large windows. The dirt streets below were empty and there was no one in danger of surprising them. They pushed the windows, which were amazingly still unlocked, open and slipped out into the cool night.
Lucy wasted no time in scanning the area for inspiration on where they were. Her eyes landed on a sign for the train station. She waved the men over and said, "There's a train station up ahead. We might be able to find some unclaimed luggage to change our clothes."
They followed Lucy's lead as she led them to a small booth just off the main track, filled with a variety of luggage and carpet bags that remained behind. They took a couple of them back to an empty alley to search through and change. They had been fortunate to find everything they needed within the two they selected at random.
Once they had gathered themselves, Lucy stared at the train station. Her expression told the others how deep in thought she was, clearly trying to determine if their mission involved the trains or not.
"Lucy?" Wyatt asked, standing next to her. "What are you thinking?"
She shook her head, tearing her gaze away from the awaiting trains and passengers. "I don't know...I mean, I'm not sure..."
Flynn gritted his teeth, turning to scan the train yard. As his eyes drifted along the crowds of people, his heart skipped a beat and his stomach dropped as he spotted a familiar face. He took a couple of steps toward the busy station, eyes darting about the people in line to board, hoping to catch the glimpse of her one more time. He had recognized that curled red hair cascading down the black dress instantly and he hoped to see it once more to be certain.
"Flynn?" Wyatt hissed quietly. "You listening?"
Flynn couldn't tear his eyes from the train. "We have to get on that train."
"What are you talking about?" Wyatt asked. "Haven't you been listening to a word-"
"Emma is on that train." Flynn started walking forward.
Wyatt grabbed his arm, stopping him. "Wait a minute, did you say Emma?"
Flynn glanced over his shoulder. "I'm following her," he told them, shrugging Wyatt's hold off. "You can do whatever you want to...but I'm going to ask her some hard questions."
Lucy's wide eyes stared after Flynn as he marched toward the train alone. Without speaking another word, she lifted the skirts to her striped red dress and jogged to catch up with him.
Wyatt and Rufus exchanged glances before rushing to rejoin the group.
The platform to board the train was overcrowded. People were trying to purchase last minute tickets for the sleeping cars from the conductor. Everyone had squeezed onto the small entrance's platform. The team huddled together to keep from being separated. They felt the elbows and hands pushing into their bodies as they grouped with the mass of people.
The conductor tried as hard as he could to get people into the cars in decent time before the train pulled away from the station but found himself overwhelmed by the number of people. Lucy could feel elbows digging into her side painfully as she turned to scan the group of people around her, hoping Emma wasn't standing behind her.
Her brown eyes locked with a familiar profile on the opposite end of the platform. She gasped involuntarily as she recognized Robert Lincoln within the crowd. His back was pressed against the railcar as he waited in the group of people trying to board the train.
Lucy couldn't help but stare at him. She knew that his father, Abraham Lincoln wouldn't be assassinated by...well, Flynn, until a year later. Lucy recalled the memory of seeing him at the Ford's Theatre when the team had tracked Flynn there and felt the color rising in her cheeks. He was still as handsome as the day she met him, with the same bushy mustache and neatly combed brown hair.
Just as she was about to say something to the others, the train lurched forward, inching its way along on the tracks. The jolt had caused Robert Lincoln to lose his balance and slip. Lucy's eyes widened in fear as the world seemed to almost slow down.
Robert Lincoln's face mirrored the fear on Lucy's. As he started to fall between the railcars of the moving train, another man reached out and grabbed the collar of his black coat, pulling him back to safety. Robert's hands grasped his chest near his heart and a nearby rail as he turned to face his rescuer.
Recognition washed over Lincoln's face as he stared at the man holding his collar. Mouth agape, he gasped, "That was a narrow escape, Mr. Booth! I am grateful and indebted to you!"
Lucy's brows knitted together before her eyes locked onto the man behind Robert. She blinked at him, realizing that the man who had saved President Lincoln's son was, in fact, Edwin Booth - John Wilkes Booth's older and more famous brother.
The older Booth just nodded curtly before turning to his friend. "Shall we continue inside, Mr. Ford?"
Lucy's eyes snapped over to the man with Booth. She recognized him immediately to be John Ford, the man who managed the Ford's Theatre. The moment of history she was witnessing slammed into the forefront of her memory hard. She had completely forgotten about the encounter until this moment as she watched it unfold before her eyes. Her mind raced with reasons why Rittenhouse would be here - were they here to take out Robert, Ford, or Booth? Perhaps all three? She struggled to understand the relevance.
"Lucy?" Wyatt asked, breaking her focused stare on Robert. She glanced over her shoulder to see Wyatt holding his hand out to her. "Let's go."
Robert's eyes hadn't left Edwin Booth since he boarded the train. He seemed to be in a state of gratitude from his near-death experience or complete star-struck of having seen the famous Booth brother, Lucy couldn't tell which.
Wyatt turned to face her. "What's wrong?" His eyes lifted to scan the corridor of the train. He could see it on her face - something was wrong.
Lucy lifted her eyes to meet his worried gaze as he studied her expression. "I just watched Edwin Booth save Robert Lincoln's life."
"What?" Wyatt gasped in shock. "When? Out there?" He motioned to the platform they were on moments ago. His face paled as the realization struck him. "Are they supposed to be here?"
She nodded aimlessly. "It happened so fast, I-"
Wyatt grasped her hand, pulling her toward the others. When he nudged her into the seat across from Rufus, he sat down across from Flynn. "Lucy's figured it out."
"I didn't say that-"
"Just tell them what you told me," he encouraged her.
Lucy twisted her lips, showing she was both flustered by whatever she had seen earlier but also showcasing her frustration with Wyatt at the moment. "When we were on the platform trying to get on the train, Robert Lincoln was saved by Edwin Booth-"
"Wait, Robert Lincoln?" Rufus repeated. "President Lincoln's son? From before?" She nodded and Rufus's eyes bugged out as the second part of her sentence struck him. "Booth? As in - "
Lucy nodded again. "That's right... As in John Wilkes Booth's older and more successful brother..."
"They're both on this train?" Rufus asked, in disbelief. "Why are they both on this train?"
"That's not all," she said, lowering her voice. "John T. Ford is accompanying Booth-"
"Who?" Wyatt asked, interrupting her.
Flynn rolled his eyes. "John Ford... as in Ford's Theatre?"
Wyatt and Rufus's expressions mirrored one another. They were sitting back against their seats in a state of shock. Wyatt asked, "Tell me this isn't a coincidence?"
Lucy shrugged. "From what I remember, Booth had no idea who Robert was. If he did, I'm sure he would have told Robert how much of a supporter he is to his father-"
"What?" Rufus gasped. "But John Wilkes-"
"Wasn't," she added, nodding quickly. "I know."
Wyatt asked, "So... why are they all on this train? What does Rittenhouse want with them?"
Lucy shook her head. "They're on the train going to different locations, I think. Robert's on break from Harvard, heading home to visit his parents and Booth...well, I think he and Ford are heading to their next theatre for whatever production he's in..." they could see that Lucy was trying to remember the specifics on which play they were doing at the time.
"So, you're saying that this truly was just a strange coincidence?" Wyatt asked again. Lucy shrugged.
Rufus shook his head. "Then why is Rittenhouse here?"
Flynn had been distracted during much of their conversation. His heart was racing as he contemplated getting up and searching for Emma. He wanted to know why Rittenhouse was even here, much like his fellow teammates but he also had questions of his own - questions regarding Tenley.
"Flynn?" Lucy said, breaking his thoughts. His eyes lifted to meet hers. She studied him, concern written on her face. "Are you all right?"
His expression had darkened considerably and it showed. Rufus averted his gaze off of the man and muttered, "You look like the villain you were years ago."
Flynn glanced at him from the corner of his eye, remaining silent. He hadn't realized that his grip on the arms of his seat was tight, making his knuckles turn white. He hadn't noticed that his leg was bouncing in place, almost as though he were trying to remind himself not to go seat-to-seat searching.
Wyatt could see how close to the edge Flynn was. He calmly said, "I think we need to figure out why Rittenhouse is here...we know there are at least three potential targets." Wyatt shifted slightly in his chair. "We should try to narrow it down."
Rufus glared at Wyatt. "How do we do that?"
Wyatt tilted his head. "We'll wing it."
Rufus groaned. "The last time you said that we went in guns blazing-"
"We'll wing it," Wyatt repeated, a smirk on his face. "It'll be fine."
In another railcar, Emma sat across from Amy. She studied the girl for a moment. Breaking their silence, she pointed out, "You seem distracted."
Amy's brown eyes drifted up to meet Emma's green ones. Emma's eyes sparkled with amusement. "Sorry. I've got a lot on my mind."
Emma's jaw jutted out slightly before she asked, "Want to talk about it?" Amy shook her head, turning to look out the window at the dark silhouettes of trees passing by. Emma sighed, "Well...I can't force you to talk but I know things that you probably want answers to." Amy glanced at her from the corner of her eyes. She remained quiet, guard still up. Emma smirked, shrugging slightly. "That's your choice," she said. "Just stick to the mission-"
"And what is that?" Amy finally asked, turning to stare at Emma, voice growing tense. "No one has told me what the mission is."
Emma blinked at her, unfazed by the tone. "We're here to meet with one of our contacts."
Amy's brows furrowed together. "Contacts?"
Emma nodded curtly. "Someone who's been working for us behind the scenes." She paused, chuckling slightly as though she had just told a joke. Amy raised an eyebrow at her antics, lost on the humor. Emma added, "Sorry, that was an unintentional pun."
Amy's expression remained confused. "I'm sorry, I don't understand-"
"Mind if I join you ladies for a moment?" a man asked.
The two glanced up to see a tall man standing over them. His dark hair was slicked back, his mutton chops were long and unruly against his long face. His full lips were curled into a knowing smile. His sunken gray eyes held a darkness within them that immediately put Amy on edge.
"Oh, Mr. Ford," Emma said, voice bordering on amusement. "You'd honor us."
Amy turned her gaze back to Emma, who wore a sarcastic smile on her expression. Amy glanced between the two. It took her another moment to realize that this was the contact they were sent to meet.
Mr. Ford sat next to Emma in the car. He smiled wide at Amy as he studied the length of her. Amy shifted in her seat uncomfortably. Emma suppressed her smirk as she turned to the man next to her. "What updates do you have for me?"
Ford's eyes drifted off of Amy to Emma. "We've had a few bumps in the road but I suspect things will continue as planned."
"And his brother?" Emma asked.
Ford turned his attention back to Amy. "Maybe we should have this conversation privately."
Amy's brows twitched as she glanced between the two. Emma leaned forward slightly. "Perhaps you should take a small walk? Freshen up, even."
Amy blinked at her, lips parting slightly as she realized they were kicking her out of the car. "Fine...I'll be back later."
"Lovely meeting you," Ford called after her as she closed the door to the booth. His eyes still lingered on her through the glass window of the door until she walked away from them.
Amy turned her gaze down the corridor in both directions. To her left, the corridor was silent, no one walking about. To her right, she spotted a tall thin man pacing, hand running through his brown hair, almost in contemplation. She chewed on her lip before slowly approaching him.
As she neared the man, his eyes lifted to meet hers. "Oh, sorry," he said, slinking off to the side of the corridor. "I didn't realize that I was blocking the path."
She shook her head, a polite smile gracing her lips. "You aren't." He smiled at her and she asked, "Are you all right?"
He blinked at her, stunned that she had asked the question. "I...I'm well."
Amy studied his expression before pointing out, "You don't look well."
He chuckled uncomfortably. "Am I that obvious?"
For the first time in a few days, Amy smiled a true smile. "I apologize for being so forward but it seemed like you could use a friend."
Her smile was mirrored in his expression as he extended his hand toward her. "Robert Lincoln...and you are?"
She slipped her hand into his. She could feel the warmth behind his gentle grasp. "Amy." He kissed her knuckles before releasing her hand.
"Amy, a beautiful name," he repeated. "What city are you heading to, if I might be so bold?"
"I don't know, really," she admitted. She saw the confusion wash over his face and quickly added, "I'm traveling with...my...sister..." He nodded as if he understood what she was saying but his face remained confused. She cleared her throat and asked, "What's been troubling you?"
He gave a small smile as he admitted, "I almost died tonight, boarding the train... Mr. Edwin Booth had pulled me to safety and I cannot get it out of my mind how fragile life is." Amy nodded, understanding completely. He continued, "I have already thanked him for his timely rescue but I cannot help but feel that I should do more."
"Like what?"
"Invite him to dine with my parents," he said. "They are great admirers of his."
"Have you considered just asking him to come?"
"That," he began as a knowing smile slowly crossing his face. "Is why I've been out here pacing for the better part of the evening."
Amy chuckled. "You should just come outright and ask him. I think you'd be pleasantly surprised."
Robert nodded. "You're absolutely right." His eyes darted to movement behind Amy. He leaned slightly toward her, whispering, "I believe your friend is waiting for you."
Amy furrowed her brow as she glanced over her shoulder. Standing at the opposite end of the corridor stood one of the agents that came along with Emma. She turned back to Robert. "I should probably go...but I wish you all of the best, Robert."
He bowed slightly. "I hope one day our paths will cross once more, Amy." He smiled brightly at her.
Amy could feel the heat rising in her cheeks as she watched him saunter down the corridor, leaving her alone. Her smile fell from her face when the sounds of footsteps on the carpeted floor crept up behind her.
Turning around, she held the man's stare. He asked, "What are ye doing?" She blinked at the accent. It reminded her of Quinn's and she found herself wondering if he was okay.
"Emma told me to take a walk," Amy replied. "That's what I was doing." She studied the man's features. Unlike Quinn, his features were lighter but there was that familiarity between the two and she couldn't put her finger on why. She decided it probably had more to do with her wondering about Quinn than there being an actual connection between the two men.
He gave her a look of disbelief. "Ye are not supposed to wander off." She could tell that he wasn't angry with her but concerned. She wasn't sure why he was showing her this level of worry, especially since she didn't know him.
"What am I supposed to do?" she spat, finally showing her frustrations. "No one is telling me anything-"
"Keep yer voice down," he warned her, gently grabbing her arm and pulling her off to the side of the hall. His stormy blue eyes darted about the corridor making sure they hadn't attracted any unwanted attention. When he was satisfied that no one was around, he turned his gaze back to her. "If ye are going to survive on these missions, ye have to listen to what ye are told-"
"I was told to take a walk," Amy hissed under her breath. "By your standards, I did what was asked."
"We are not alone on this train," he told her, loosening his grip on her. "Ye can't just go wandering off-" She saw the flash of protectiveness wash over his features as he calmed his tone. She started to relax a little in his presence.
"I told you-"
"Emma should know better too," he interrupted her, shaking his head. "And I'll make sure Carol knows about it when we return."
Amy sighed heavily. She licked her lips, braving her next question. "What is the mission here? Why was it so necessary that I be here?"
The man's eyes narrowed at her. "Ye are not supposed to be here." She cocked her head at him in confusion. He added, "As for the mission..."
His blue eyes darted behind her shoulder. He had locked onto someone and was tracking them. "I want ye to listen to me very carefully." Amy started to turn to look when his grip on her arm jerked her back to him. "Don't turn around. Do as I tell ye...I want ye to make yer way to the cargo cars at the back of the train." She could hear the worry for her wellbeing in his tone of voice.
"Why?" she asked. "What's going on?"
"We need to end our meeting and get off this train."
Amy blinked at him. "We're on a moving train...How do you-"
"I'll send Emma yer way," he told her. He released his hold on her and hissed under his breath, "Don't look back, just keep moving. Go now!"
She started to flee down the corridor. She heard the unmistakable sounds of a fight behind her. As she reached the end of the car, she paused by the door that would lead her outside to the next car. Glancing over her shoulder, she watched as the man she had been with moments before was struggling against one of the men from the picture Carol had shown her - Wyatt.
Seeing that Wyatt was close to winning the battle, Amy rushed out into the cold evening air to cross over to the next car. The wind whipped around her. Her dress blew out from her body, nearly knocking her off the platform. The rumbling of the train echoed in the night. Carefully, Amy crossed over the platform. She opened the door with shaky hands and found herself inside one of the luggage cars.
The luggage had been stacked neatly and bound by ropes to prevent them from falling over. The light was scarce as the entire car relied heavily on a single lit lantern that dangled in the center, swaying back and forth to the motion of the moving train.
Rushing forward, Amy glanced about for a place to hide within the dark cargo car. As she neared the door at the back of the car, she heard the door close from where she had just come from. Her heart raced as she darted to the nearest corner, slinking behind the luggage stacked there. She hoped whoever had followed her wouldn't see her.
Amy plastered herself against the stacked luggage. She could barely hear the footsteps within the car over the train rumbling down the tracks. The small lamp that lit the center of the car swayed back and forth, causing numerous shadows to dance across the room.
Her eyes darted about the area as she listened for her follower. She hesitated to come out from her hiding spot and against her better judgment, she slowly started to peek out around the corner. Just as she glanced down the length of the car, she saw no one.
Fear crept up her spine as she stood up straight, the hairs on her arms standing at attention. She felt that desperate need to bolt out of the car to the next - that feeling of flight overtaking her senses. She whirled around to flee but slammed into a tall frame behind her, barring her escape.
Startled, she gasped and instinctively tried to defend herself against the man before her. The man deflected her blows, grabbing her wrists firmly. The moment he held her in place, dark eyes meeting hers, shock and confusion washed over his once stern expression as he stared at her - his face paled like he had seen a ghost.
"Tenley?" he gasped, blinking at her. Her eyes went wide as she stared back at him - remembering the photo Carol had shown her before they left. This was the other man who kidnapped her sister - Flynn. His grip had loosened on her wrists. She tried to jerk them away but he quickly held on. He asked, "Is it really you?"
She yanked her wrists away from him, backing up slowly. "You have me confused with someone else."
He shook his head, trying to reach out to her once more. "What are you-"
"Stay back!" she warned him, hand stretched forward to keep him at bay.
He froze, confusion more apparent on his face. "What happened to you? Don't you remember me?"
"Yeah," she started, inching toward the door. "You're responsible for kidnapping my sister!"
His face contorted by her words. "Your sister-"
"Don't play dumb with me! I know everything!"
"Tenley-"
"That's not my name!" she shouted at him. Her tone appeared to have slapped him in the face with an unseen hand.
He took a step forward, hands raised to show he meant her no harm. His voice was calm but shaky and desperate. "Your name is Tenley-"
"No!"
His brows knitted together with worry. "I'm trying to help you-"
She continued backing away from him. She shook her head. "I don't believe you..."
Hurt washed over his face as he froze, mouth agape. "You don't remember anything...do you?" When she didn't answer, he asked, "What happened to you? What have they done to you?"
Before Amy had a chance to reply, the door behind her slammed open. Emma and the man who scolded her in the corridor earlier burst into the cargo car. Emma raised her gun, aiming directly at Flynn. "Stay away from her, Flynn."
"Emma!" he scoffed. "I should have known. What are you doing?"
"Amy, I need you to come with me," Emma said, eyes zeroed in on Flynn. "We are going home."
Amy saw the confusion and anger wash over Flynn's face at the mention of her name. His anger seemed more directed at Emma than anything. He looked almost pained when his eyes darted to her. She could see that he knew her but she couldn't place a single memory of him - there was a sense of desperation behind his gaze.
The man next to her began tugging on her arm. "Come on. We have to go."
Amy followed the man onto the platform, glancing back to Emma and Flynn. She watched as Flynn held his hands up in a defensive manner, lips pressed into a thin line. His eyes darted to meet hers one last time, almost pleading for her to stay with him - pleading for her to remember him.
The man led Amy to the ladder leading up to the roof of the cargo car. He climbed up first, turning around to help her. As they reached the top, Emma had brought up the rear. The man grasped Amy's hand, pulling her across the roof of the car, steadying her as the wind whipped through them.
Amy's heart pounded in her chest as they inched their way across the top of the fast-moving train. As they neared the center, the Mothership popped into view. The door opened and their pilot waved them over.
The added weight to the car caused the whole train to lurch. The cargo cars snapped off the rest of the train, slowing down along the tracks. Sparks of bright yellow and orange flew out from the metal wheels, illuminating the outside world briefly as the metal screeched awkwardly against each other, echoing in the dark of night.
The jerk of the train cars breaking away had knocked everyone off of their feet. The man holding Amy bolted to his feet, pulling her up. He pushed her toward the white and blue machine, glancing over his shoulder at Emma who was also scrambling to her feet.
The three climbed into the Mothership quickly. Just as the door to the machine started to close, Amy spotted Wyatt and Flynn reaching the roof of the train car, guns aimed at them. The moment the door closed, they vanished back to their time.
Flynn and Wyatt stood there, helpless as the Mothership disappeared. Wyatt turned to face Flynn, panting to catch his breath. "Was that Tenley?"
Flynn nodded, unable to tear his eyes from the spot he had last seen her. "We have to get back to our time."
Wyatt sighed heavily, tossing his hands up in frustration. "Looks like it's going to be a long walk back."
Flynn's mind repeated the encounter in his head like a nightmare. He had been lucky that Emma was distracted and missed her mark when the train car lurched. He could feel the searing pain along his ribs from her missed shot but he refused to fixate on it as there'd be plenty of time to patch himself up. Right now, he had questions and he needed answers.
One thing was certain for Flynn. If Rittenhouse or Bloodstone did anything to harm Tenley, there'd be no force strong enough to stop him from wiping them off the face of the planet.
